Velocipede



(No Model.) 0- E W. WOOD-WARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

VELOGIPEDE.

Patented Apr. 9, 1889.

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(No Model.) C. E. W. WOODWARD. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

VELOGIPEDE.

No. 401,237. Patented Apr. 9, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

CHARLES E. \V. VVOODWVARD, OF OII IOOPEE FALLS, ASSIGNOR TO THE OVERMANYVHEEL COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,237, dated April 9,1889. Application filed June 8, 1888. Serial No. 27 6, 178. (No model.)

.To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. W. W001)- WARD, residing at OhicopeeFalls, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- actdescription of thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apartof this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in cycles or velocipedes, theobject being to provide means for absorbing vibration in them,increasing their comfort to the rider, and securing an even drivingaction and an even pressure for the driving wheel or wheels upon theroad-bed, and therefore aiding propulsion.

With these ends in view my invention consists in employing thecrank-shaft of the vehicle to pivotally connect the main frame and therear-wheel frame thereof; in maintaining the crank-shaft, saddle, andsteering-bearin fixed in their relations to each other in a cycle inwhich the main frame and the rearwheel frame are pivotally connectedtogether; in providing the pivotal rear-wheel frame with a forwardextension and connecting that with the main frame of the vehicle, and incertain otherdetails of construction and combinations of parts, as willbe hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of asafety-bicycle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detached enlargedview, partly in plan and partly in section, of the rear-wheel frame andthe crankshaft of such machine. Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken view, invertical section, through the crank-shaft. Fig. 4: is a detached brokenview, in side elevation, of the tubular extension of the rear-wheelframe with the rocking sleeve thereupon. Fig. 5 is a detached View, infront elevation, of the rocking sleeve. Fig. dis a detached broken viewof the tubular extension of the rear-wheel frame with the rocking sleeveremoved, and Fig. 7 is a detached plan view of the threaded adjustingrod and pin.

The frame or fork A of the rear drivingwheel, B, of the vehicle isarranged horizontally, or substantially so, and provided at its forwardend with a tubular extension, O,whi ch extends forward of and is clampedbetween two clamping-lugs, D D, carrying a bolt, E,

and nut F, and depending from a rocking sleeve, G, mounted centrallyupon the crankshaft H and having flaring ends I 1, adapted to receiveanti-friction balls J, as shown. The said crank-shaft is provided withtwo hardened sleeves, K K, respectively located upon opposite sides ofthe said rocking sleeve, having their inner ends coned, as at L L, toenter the flaring ends of the rocking sleeve and co-operate therewith informing raceways for the balls J, and provided each with a groove, M,one of these sleeves being threaded upon the crank-shaft, so as to beadjustable thereon for taking up wear in the coned ends of the hardenedsleeves and in the flaring ends of the rocking sleeve, which islongitudinally movable on the crank-shaft. Oheck nuts N N, mounted uponthe threaded end of the shaft, are provided for locking the adjustablesleeve in place. The said hardened sleeves are respectively embraced byballcases 0 O, which co-operate with them in forming raceways P for theanti-friction balls Q, as shown. These ball-cases are adapted forlateral adjustment and respectively pivoted to the arms R R of a yoke,S, formed at the lower end of the upright T, connected about midway ofits length with a substan- 1 tially horizontal cross-piece, U, the twoparts T and U forming a rigid T-shaped frame. The forward end of thetubular extension O is somewhat reduced in size and carries a movablecoupling collar or clip V, to which is attached the lower end of a heavycoiled spring, N, connected at its upper end with a perforated lug, X,formed upon the lower face of the cross-piece U aforesaid.

A rod inserted into the tubular extension 0 from the outer end thereofis threaded at its outer end to receive one or more adjustingnut-s, Y,and provided at its inner end with a transverse pin, Z, the oppositeends whereof extend outward into the lugs D D, through two longitudinalslots, A A, formed opposite each other in the rear end of the saidextension, the adjustment whereof forward and back between theclamping-lugs is limited by the length of the said slots. Thisadjustment is secured by releasing the grip of the clamping-lugs uponthe extension and then moving the same manually, and is supplemented bythe adj usting-nuts Y on the one side and on the other side by thetension of the chain B, which runs over a sprocketwheel, 0, mounted onone end of the crankshaft at a point without the arms R R of the yoke S,and carries the said chain crossing the adjacent arm of the rear-wheelframe A obliquely and running over a similar but smallersprocket-wheel,D', located within the arms of the said frame.

The upper ends of the upright T of therigid T-shaped frame of thevehicle is provided with a saddle support or bearing, E, carrying anadjustable saddle-post, F, supporting a saddle, G, which, as hereinshown, is without a spring, which, under my'invention, is not needed forthe absorption of vibration, and is always a drawback to the mosteffective pedaling.

The forward end of the cross-piece U carries, in rigid attachment, thesteering-bearing H of the steering-fork I, which forms the frame for thesteering-wheel J, and is connected at its upper end to the adjustablesteering-rod K, supporting the handle-barsL', from which the brake M iscontrolled.

It will be noted that under the above-described construction thecrank-shaft bearing, the saddle-bearing, and the steering-bearing arealways of invariable distance from each other. This secures comfort tothe rider, increases the eifect of the pedaling, and secures an evenerdriving action than can be had in machines where these distances maychange. It will be noted, also, that the coiled spring is attached tothe tubular extension of the rearwheel frame at a point about midwaybetween the two wheels, so that the spring dis tributes its action withsubstantial equality between the two wheels when it is placed undertension by the weight of the rider, which bears directly upon thecrank-shaft. However, by shifting the coupling collar or clip upon theextension, the leverage may be changed for adj usting the action of thespring to riders of different weight, or for securing an unequaldistribution of its action between the two wheels, if that is founddesirable in practice. The spring action upon the drivingwheel isconsidered to be an advantage in giving a more even pressure upon theroadbed, and consequently aiding propulsion. If desired, the attachmentof the spring to the T-shaped frame may be made adjustable for giving astill wider range of effect to the spring.

It is apparent that my invention is not con fined to bicycles, but isalso applicable to tricycles or other types of velocipedes. I wouldtherefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exactconstruction and arrangement of parts herein shown and described, buthold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairlyfall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure'by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cycle, the combination,with a main frame, of a rear-wheel frameprovided wlth a forward extension, a crank-shaft forming a pivotalconnection between the two frames, and a spring connected with the mainframe and the said extension, which extends forward under the mainframe, substantially as set forth.

2. In a cycle, the combination, with a main frame, of a rear-wheel frameprovided with an extension located in the same horizontal plane with it,a crank-shaft forming a pivotal connection between the two frames, and aspring positively connecting themain frame and the extension andextended under the weight of the rider, substantially as set forth.

3. In a cycle, the combination, with amain frame, of a crank-shaftcarried thereby, a rocking sleeve mounted on such shaft, a rearwheelframe having a forward extension con nected with such sleeve, and aspring connecting such extension and the main frame of the vehicle,substantially as set forth.

4. In a cycle, the combination, with the main frame thereof, of acrank-shaft carried thereby, a rear-wheel frame pivotally and adjustablyconnected to such shaft, and a spring connecting the forward end of suchframe with the main frame of the vehicle, substantially as set forth.

5. In a cycle, the combination, with the main frame thereof, of acrank-shaft carried thereby, a rocking sleeve mounted on such shaft andprovided with depending clampinglugs, a rear-wheel frame having aforward extension passing between such lugs, which are clamped upon it,and a spring connecting the forward end of the extension with the mainframe of the vehicle, substantially as set forth.

6. In a cycle, the combination, with the main frame thereof, of acrank-shaft carried thereby, a rocking sleeve mounted on such shaft, arear-wheel frame provided with a tubular forward extension connectedwith such sleeve, a spring connecting such extension with the main frameof the vehicle, and a threaded rod mounted in the extension, andprovided at its forward end with adjustingnuts and at its inner end witha pin passing through limiting-slots in the extension and connected withthe said sleeve, substantially as set forth.

7. In a cycle, the combination, with a main frame having an uprightprovided at its lower end with a fork each arm whereof carries aball-bearing case, of a crank-shaft carrying a grooved sleeve for eachof such cases, a rocking sleeve located between such grooved sleeves, arear-wheel frame provided with a forward extension connected with suchrockballs, a rear-wheel frame having a forward extension connected withsuch rocking sleeve, and a spring connecting the said extension with themain frame of the vehicle, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. WV. VVOODWARD.

Witnesses:

LUTHER WHITE, JAMES L. BUGBEE.

